Coastguard Search of Isle of Wight called off

A sea and air search operation has been called off for a passenger reported to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship off the Isle of Wight on Saturday.

The man is understood to have entered the water from the Ventura as it was returning to Southampton, Hampshire, from a two-week trip to the Mediterranean.

A Coastguard helicopter and RNLI lifeboats were involved in searches of an area with a 25 nautical mile radius south of St Catherine's Point of the Isle of Wight since the early hours but the search was called off this afternoon.

The P&O ship, which can carry up to 3,200 passengers, had also retraced its route across the area to assist the search.

A Coastguard spokeswoman said: ``We are still broadcasting to all shipping to look out for anything in the water.''

A P&O Cruises spokesman said its arrival had been delayed and added: ``Following reports of a missing person earlier this morning, Ventura conducted a full search of the area off the coast of the Isle of Wight.''